SunMedia reported that emergency services are responding to a large fire on Matakana Island. “Fire and Emergency was alerted to a forest fire on Matakana Island near Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty at 7.36pm this evening,” said Fire and Emergency Shift Manager Garreth Lewis. The fire was  approximately 300 x 300 meters early on, but was very visible from the mainland.

Brigades from Matakana Island and Greerton were responding and the fire plume was seen from across Tauranga, with SunLive readers in Pahoia, Matua, and Maungatapu saying they can view it from their properties.

“We have multiple crews that will respond to the fire tomorrow morning by barge,” said Lewis, and a helicopter on scene at first light.”